Site surveying is the backbone of any major development project—but traditional methods can be slow, costly, and sometimes risky. At the Chatterley Valley site, Lichfield Survey Supplies transformed the workflow by deploying advanced drone technology, achieving a leap in both efficiency and precision.
Key Points from This Article
- Drone technology transformed site surveying at Chatterley Valley, dramatically reducing survey times and costs.
- 26 weekly drone surveys were conducted from June to December 2024, delivering high-frequency, up-to-date site data.
- A DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise with RTK and over 20 Ground Control Points provided sub-centimetre accuracy across a 44.6-hectare site.
- Survey time per visit dropped from 45+ hours (traditional) to just 1.5 hours using drones.
- Data deliverables included high-resolution orthomosaics, progress maps, as-built documentation, and earthwork volume calculations.
- Safety was enhanced by keeping surveyors away from hazards and allowing construction to proceed uninterrupted.
- The process offered environmental and financial benefits by reducing on-site travel, labour hours, and errors.
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Project Overview: Chatterley Valley Drone Survey
Chatterley Valley is a vast development site covering 44.6 hectares (446,241 m²), stretching 1,440m in length and 400m in width. Between June and December 2024, Lichfield Survey Supplies Ltd was commissioned to undertake weekly drone surveys for John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd, supporting earthwork calculations, material movement tracking, and as-built documentation.
Drone Survey Stats:
- Flights: 26 weekly surveys over 6 months
- Drone: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise + RTK Module
- Ground Control: 20+ GCPs established across the site
- Flight Duration: 1.5 hours per survey (3 batteries per flight)
- Images Captured: 2,114 images (25.76 GB)
- Total Flight Distance: 25.1 km
- Ground Sampling Distance (GSD): 1.48 cm/pixel
- Image Overlap: 75% side, 80% forward
Efficiency: Weekly Progress in a Fraction of the Time
Traditionally, a site of this size would require at least 45 hours of manual surveying per visit. With our drone setup, each weekly survey took just 1.5 hours in the field—allowing project managers to make timely decisions with up-to-date data. The time saved allowed us to focus on data analysis, rather than days of walking the site.
Safety: Surveying Without Setting Foot in Danger
Active construction zones can be hazardous for surveyors. Drones eliminate the need to cross unstable ground or work near machinery, dramatically reducing risk. No interruptions to site activity, no exposure to hazards—just accurate, safe data collection.
Accuracy: Sub-Centimetre Results Using GCPs
We used over 20 ground control points to achieve sub-centimetre accuracy, with all images processed in DJI Terra, Pix4D Matic, and WebODM. The result? High-precision orthomosaics, point clouds, and digital elevation models, accurate enough for critical earthwork volume and movement calculations.
Deliverables: Progress Tracking, Planning, and Volume Analysis
- Orthomosaics: High-res, detailed mapping of the entire site—updated weekly.
- Progress Tracking: Visual records for stakeholders and planning.
- As-Built Documentation: Reliable, date-stamped evidence of progress.
- Material Volume Calculations: Point clouds processed in Topcon Office software enabled accurate week-to-week comparisons, supporting project billing and resource allocation.
Environmental & Financial Benefits
Drone surveying slashed on-site hours and vehicle movements, reducing both carbon emissions and costs. By eliminating manual rework and minimizing errors, the client realized substantial savings—money and time that could be reinvested elsewhere.
Looking Forward: The Future of Drone Surveying
As drone and data processing technology advance, we see even greater opportunities for automation and real-time analysis. At Chatterley Valley, drones have set the new standard for site surveying.
Learn more about our drone surveying services
or see how we help clients across the Midlands at Surveyed By Drone.
This case study also appears on our partner sites, with additional project insights and services.
Related Content: More on Drone Surveying
- Accuracy Matters: Comparing Drone Surveying to Traditional Methods
- Top 5 Industries Benefiting from Drone Surveying in 2025
- How to Choose the Right Drone or Partner for Your Drone Surveying Needs
- Drone Surveying Myths Debunked
- 10 Reasons to Switch to Drone Surveying in Your Next Project
- The Evolution of Surveying: How Drones Are Changing the Game